Welcome to Hastings County!

Hastings County is the second largest county in Ontario, stretching almost 160 kilometers from the Bay of Quinte to Algonquin Park. It is comprised of 14 member municipalities.

In the northern portion you will find the ancient rock formations and dense boreal forests of the Canadian Shield, where clear lakes and recreational opportunities abound every season of the year. The southern portion is part of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands, home to two cities and many small towns surrounded by rich farmland.

Hastings County is abundant in historical and natural wonders. The rural lifestyle remains strong here, and you will find our unique artisan and antique shops make for a wonderful day of shopping and exploring our small towns, villages and hamlets. Hastings County is the ultimate combination of rural and urban living.

As publisher of Country Roads, receiving the 2017 MVP Tourism Award at the Hastings County Awards Celebration held recently at the Village Playhouse in Bancroft was a tremendous and humbling honour. In truth, the award is a reflection of the great amount of work everybody puts into Country Roads. We have an extremely dedicated staff that is committed not just to the magazine but also to presenting the best Hastings County has to offer...

If you have never made bread, figured out how yeast works or don’t want to do all that kneading then this recipe is for you. The only thing that you really need is time and then you will have the most wonderful artisanal bread. Friends will ask what bakery made it.

If you've ever spent time shopping in Bancroft, you're probably well aware of The Old Tin Shed on Sherbourne Street. Opened by mother-daugher team Janis and Dagny Whitehead in 2002, the shop represents over 200 artists and suppliers. Well, now they've found something very interesting: a new home. The Whiteheads are moving to Nova Scotia, where they have found a beautiful new place to live. Not to worry though, they will continue to operate The Old Tin Shed from a distance, with the help of their awesome staff. And they tell us they will still visit Bancroft frequently...

There are tons of unique shopping destinations in beautiful Stirling-Rawdon! Are you a gardener? Fashionista? Gift-giver? Reader? Then you definitely need to add a trip to Stirling to you to-do list! The next couple months are the prefect time to visit, because Stirling has two big festivals coming up!

As I was to discover, Dr. Scott was an exceptional individual — a true visionary who was the principal reason why Lavalée was ahead of its time. Little wonder that the attractions and facilities found on the extensive Scott property that straddled Faraday and Wollaston Townships surpassed the competition.

By Barry Penhale -- Yet another source of interesting background to Flint may be found in the writings of Nila Reynolds. In “Bancroft: A Bonanza of Memories”, she informs readers of how the community of York River, with a post office since May 1, 1861, became officially known as Bancroft solely due to the enormous political clout of one Billa Flint — Senator Flint, if you please...

2017 marks the 150th Anniversary of Canada. Country Roads magazine will celebrate with editorial that shines a spotlight on Hastings County and its importance to this great country. Watch for special articles and celebrations throughout our 2017 issues.